Brake mechanism.



G. S. AGKLEY.

BRAKE MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED ooT. 13, 1910.

1,002,551. Patented Se t. 5, 1911.

2 SHBETSBHEBT 1.

I III.

M f E l r a r 2 0. 7772 2266555. WW4 flz forzwysf G. S. AGKLEY.

BRAKE MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED 00'1.l3, 1910.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fa f 5 if GRIFFIN S. ACKLEY, OI BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. BRAKE MECHANISM.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

Application filed October 18, 1810. Serial No. 586,820.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRIFFIN S. ACKLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing. at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Brake Mechanisms, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to that type of brakemechanisms for cars in which a hand-actuated vertical handle or wheel isemployed which operates a drum upon which the brake chain is wound.

In the construction and operation of cars, especially vestibuled streetcars, it is desirable to limit as much as ossible the space in the endof the car required by the motorman or driver in operating the same. Thecommon form of brake mechanism now in use, in which the winding drum isplaced beneath the floor of the car and is operated by a vertical brakestaff which extends up through the floor and is provided at its upperend with a horizontally rotatable crank handle or wheel for turning thesame, has been found undesirable as the handle, when of proper length togive suflicient purchase or leverage to the operator, requiresconsiderable space in the end of the car to permit of the free turningthereof. There is also the danger that these handles, when the brakemechanism is suddenly released, will fly back and injure the operator ora passenger standing near. It has been attempted to overcome thisdifficulty by providing the upper end of the brake staff with avertically rotatable hand-wheel or handle which is geared to the staffand operates the same for turning the winding drum. The difiiculty withthis construction is that it is impossible in a practical constructionto so construct and arrange the connecting gears that repeated turns ofthe hand-wheel will not be necessary in applying the brakes. Thisincreases the labor required in operating the hand-wheel and preventsthat quick application of the brakes which is frequently of prime1'mportance in operating a car. It has also been found in use thatvertical wheel brakes of this kind, owing to the friction between theirvarious connecting ears, are very slow in releasing, and to e ect aquick release of these brakes powerful springs are required to pull thebrake beams back away from the wheels. These springs materiallyexperienced in finding increase the power re uired in applying thebrakes and add consi erably to the cost of the brakes and of theinstallation thereof on the cars.

A further difficulty has been frequently room for the Winding drumbeneath the platform of the car, and its location there in manyinstances has required extensive alterations to be made in the structureand arrangement of the various parts which are usually secured beneaththe floor of the car. This adds greatly to the cost of equipment andprevents the brakes from belng universally applicable to all styles ofcars.

ThlS invention is designed to overcome these difiiculties by providing abrake mechanism of the vert cal handle or wheel type, of simple,economical and compact construction, which will occupy a relativelysmall space at the end of the car; which can be readily installed in thecar without requiring any changes or alterations therein and at littleexpense; which can be quickly and effectively operated for applying thebrakes to the wheels and will act to quickly release the brakes when thehandle and drum are released; and in which no brake staff is employedand the chain winding drum is located above the floor of the caradjacent to the operating handle or wheel,

leaving the space below the car floor practically unobstructed andavailable for use for other purposes.

Another objectof this invention is to provide a winding drum upon whichthe brake chain may be wound with equal facility in either direction andthe peripheral winding surface of which is so shaped that the rotationof the drum in either direction increases the leverage on thechain asthe drum rotates, and to construct the operating mechanism for the drumin such a manner that it can be changed with little trouble so as torotate the drum in either direction in applying the brakes. The brakemechanism can thus be readily adapted for use with operating handles orwheels which turn either to the left or to the right in applying thebrakes.

Another object of this invention is to' provide a frame or casing inwhich all of the parts of the brake mechanism are mounted and whichforms therewith a unitary structure which can be readily secured as suchin position in the car with all the mechanism an operative positiontherein, and to construct the casing sothat it will inclose all of themechanism which is located above the.

floor of the car, rotecting the same from dust and dirt and giving asightly appearance thereto. I

A further object of this invent-ionis to generally improve theconstruction and arrangement of the brake mechanism and the partsthereof 'in the respects hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets: Figure 1 isafront elevation,

artly in section, of a brake mechanism emhodylng the invention. Fig. 2is a sectional side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional frontelevation thereof with hand-wheel and front wall of the casin removed.Fig. 4 is a fra entary sectiona elevation, on an enlarge scale, on line4-4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, on an enlargedscale, on line 55, Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevationof a brake mechanism adapted to be turned in a direction opposite tothat shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 isa sectional elevation on line 77, Fig. 4.Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the winding drum on line 88, Fig. 4.Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the winding drum detached. Fig. 10 is afragmentary perspective View, on an enlarged scale, of the foot leverand adjacent parts. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of thelower portion of a brake mechanism of modified construction.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

The brake mechanism in general terms comprises a horizontal operatingshaft having a vertically rotatable handle or wheel at "one end, apinion at its opposite end and a the floor of the car and is connectedat its lower end either directly to the brake rod or to someintermediate lever or other connection for operating the brakes. Thedrum has a peripheral winding surface upon which the brake chain can bewound in either direction and which is so shaped as to increase theleverage on the chain asthe drum rotates. The drum is also provided withsuitable holding means which can be actuated forpreventing the drum fromunwinding when the brake is being applied. The various parts of themechanism are so constructed and arranged that they can be readilyadapted for either a right handed or a left handed operating handle, 71e., a

handle which turns either to the right or to the left in applying thebrake. And the entire mechanism is mounted in and inclosed by a suitableframe or casing which rests upon the floor of the car adjacent to theend or dash thereof where the mechanism will take up as little room aspossible and the o erating handle will be easily accessible to t e oerator of the car.

Re erring now to the particular construction shown in the drawings, Arepresents the supgorting casing or frame in which the' win ing drum andits operating mechanism are mounted. This casing may be of any suitableconstruction and secured to the car in any desirable manner. The casingshown in the drawings is of pedestal shape having its base resting uponand secured to the floor ,a of the car, and an enlarged upper end orhead a in which the winding drum and operating mechanism are mounted andwhich is bolted or otherwise firmly fastened to the dash or end a of thecar. A frame of this construction affords a firm and substantial supportfor the brake mechanism and at the same time incloses'and protects theparts thereof from dust and dirt and gives a neat appearance to themechanism.

, B represents the winding drum fo: the brake chain. This drum may be ofany suitable construction which has a peripheral winding portion shapedso as to take up the slack in the brake chain and increase the leverageon the chain as the drum is rotated. The drum shown is of this characterand has the additional advantage that it will operate effectively towind the brake chain thereon in whichever direction it is rotated. Thisdrum has an enlarged circular portion at one end rovided with suitablegear teeth b and a jacent to this has a peripheral windin portion 6which is cocentric to the axls of the drum, and a smaller concentricportion 6 which terminates in a radial flange b That part of theeccentric portion 6' which is of greatest distance from the axis of thedrum is provided with a pin or other connection I) for securing thebrake chain thereto, and pehipheral grooves or channels 6 b ofdecreasing radius extend spirally in opposite directions from the pin orconnection I) and terminate in the concentric portion 12 of the drum.Then the drum is turned in either direction the chain will be woundspirally upon the drum, following along one of the grooves 12 until thesmall concentric portion of the drum is reached and then windingthereon.

The eccentric portion of the drum serves to quickly take up any slack inthe chain when the drum is rotated in either direction and at the sametime increases the leverage on the chain as the drum rotates until thechain reaches the smaller concentric portion of the drum where the drumbe employed with advantage in various other forms of brake mechanismwhere a winding drum lS desired which can be rotated in either directionfor winding the 01121111.

I lhe drum B maybe mounted in the easl5 ing A in any suitable manner. Inthe construetion shown the drum is journaled in a fixed axle C which issecured at its ends in suitable bosses c c in the front and rear wallsof the casing. The drum is preferably provided with a roller bearing Dfor facilitating its freedom of movement on the axle. A

E represents the horizontal operating shaft which projects through thefront wall of the casing A and is provided at its outer end with asuitable handle or wheel a which is adapted to rotate in a verticalplane, and at its inner or rear end with a pinion F which engages theteeth I) of the Winding drum for turning the sameQ The shaft and pinionmay be journaled in the casing and connected together in any suitablemanner.

In the construction shown the pinion F is journaled on a stud axle fwhich is secured at its inner end to the rear wall of the casing, andthe shaftE is hollow and surrounds the outer end of this axle and isjournaled in an annular bearing f which is secured to the front wall ofthe casing. On the axle f within the inner end of the shaft E areloosely journaled clutch members G and H which are of the usual ratchetty e. The member G is movable endwise o the shaft E and. has a squareend portion g which engages in a square socket g in the shaft E so thatthe clutch member and shaft turn together, and the clutch member H has asimilar square end portion 71 which engages in a square socket h in thepinion F and turns therewith. A spring 9 on the axle f serves to holdthe clutch members normally in engagement with each other.

The clutch members described are those shown in Fig. 4 of the drawingsand are adapted to be used for connecting the shaft to the pinion whenthe chain winding drum is to be rotated for applying the brakes byturning the shaft operating handle or wheel to the right, in otherwords, in a right handed brake mechanism. "When the drum is intended tobe rotated for applying the brakes by turning the operating handle tothe left, i. e., in a left handed brake mechanism, clutch members G andshown in Fig. 5, are employed which are similar to the members G and Hexcept that their engaging ratchet teeth face in opposite directions.Either set of clutch members can be easily removed from the axle f uponwithdrawing the operating shaft, and replaced by the other set to changethe direction of the winding movement of the shaft.

The holding means for the winding drum in the construction shownconsists of a ratchet wheel I which is secured to the front end of thedrum to turn therewith, preferably having a square hole 2' which titsover a square extension *5 on the drum between the flange b and thefront wall of the frame. This Wheel is alike on both sides so that itcan be reversed andsecured to the drum with its teeth facing in eitherdirection. In the right hand brake mechanism, shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4,the teeth of the ratchet wheel face to the right, while in the lefthanded brake mechanism, shown in Figs. 5, and 6, the position of thewheel is reversed and the teeth face to the left.

By locating the ratchet wheel at the front end of the drum and theconnecting gears at the rear ends of the drum and operating shaft, avery compact construction is obtained and the depth of the mechanismconsiderably decreased as the drum and its ratchet in this arrangementtake up no more space horizontally between the walls of the casing thanthat required by the operating shaft and its clutch members, and thereis no waste space between the walls on either the operating shaft or thedrum.

The ratchet wheel is adapted to be engaged by a suitable reversibleholding dog K and pivot posts L L are provided in the front wall of thecasing A at opposite sides of the axis of the ratchet wheel,- to eitherof which the dog K is adapted to be secured, depending .upon thedirection in which the teeth of the ratchet wheel face. The dog K isprovided with a weighted end portion is which holds it normally out ofengagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel and is actuated to engagethe ratchet teeth by a foot lever M with which it is connected by a rodm. The lever M is located centrally in the lower portion of the casing Aat an equal distance from the pivot posts L L so that the rod m willconnect the lever with the dog when the latter is mounted on eitherpost.

The inner end of the lever is forked to straddle the brake chain and ispivoted to lugs m m on the rear wall of the casing. The outer end of thelever projects through an opening in the front wall of the casing whereit is within easy access of the operator ofthe car. .Avspring m isplaced between the lever and the base of the casing for holding thelever normally in its raised or releasing position.

- desired.

The holding means and its actuating mechanism above described aredesirable as they are simple in construction and can be easily operatedand are reversible, but any other suitable holding means and actuatingmechanism therefor may be employed, if

operated. In the construction shown in Figs. 1-3, the chain is intendedto extend back rearwardly under the car for connection with the brakes,and to permit of the free movement of the chain, a pulley O is rovidedwhich is arranged'under the car iibor beneath the brake mechanism andover which the chain passes.

Any suitable means may be employed for securing the pulley O in positionbelow the floor of the car. In the construction shown the frame A has abase plate P provided with a suitable hole or opening through which thebrake chain extends and with depending bearing lugs p p on oppositesides of this opening in which is secured an axle 72 upon which thispulley is journaled. This construction permits the pulley to be locatedso that it will project but a short distance below the floor of the carand affords a very strong and secure support for the pulley. The pulleyand chain take up but little space beneath the floor of the car and forthis reason can be installed without requiring any changes oralterations to be made and do not interfere with the use of the spacebelow the floor for other purposes. In Fig. 11 a modification is shownin which the lower end of the brake chain is attached directly beneaththe brake mechanism to the end of a goose neck lever B which is pivotedat its opposite end to the fioor of the car and to which, intermediateof its ends, the

brake rod is attached. As the. chain is wound upon its drum the free endof this lever is raised," drawing the brake rod forwardly and applyingthe brakes.

The brake mechanism can be changed from the right handed mechanism,shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, to a left handed mechanism, shown in Figs. 5,and 6, or vice-versa, with little trouble. This is done by removing oneset of clutch members from the operating shaft and substituting theother set,

reversing the ratchet wheel on the drum and shifting the holding dogfrom one side of the ratchet wheel to the opposite side thereof. Thisconsiderably reduces the cost of manufacture as one connection isavailable for both mechanisms and it also adds greatly to the usefulnessand desirability of I the brake mechanism.

The various parts of the mechanism are mounted 1n the casing in such amanner as to form a'unitary structure which can be completed and. testedat the factory and can be easily installed in the car without the'necessity of fitting or adjusting any parts and withoutmaking anyalterations or changes in the car. It is onl necessary to cut a hole inthe floor of t e car to receive the brake chain and the depending pulleyif the casing is provided with one. The casin can then be set in lace,the chain connecte and the base and rear wall of the casin bolted to thefloor and dash of the car a l of which can be done with little time andexpense. This greatly reduces the cost of installation of the brakes andprevents the trouble which frequently arises in installin brakes from afailure to properly fit and a adjust the parts thereof.

The operating shaft and winding drum are arranged adjacent to each otherand geared directly together so that no intermediate gears or staff arerequired and the power exerted on the handle 1s commuicated tween theparts of the mechanism which 1. In a brake mechanism, the combination ofa horizontal operating shaft provided with a vertical operating handle,a chain winding drum journaled on an axis parallel with and adjacent tosaid operating shaft above the floor of the car and geared to saidshaft, said drum having a peripheral winding portion shaped to increasethe leverage on the chain as the drum is rotated,

and a brake operating chain connected to said drum and extendingdownwardly therefrom for connection with the brakes of the car,substantially as set forth.

2. In a brake mechanism, the combination of a horizontal operatingshaft, an operating handle therefor, a chain winding drum ournaled on anaxls parallel wlth and adjacent to said shaftabove the floor of the car,

said drum having a peripheral winding portion shaped to increase theleverage on the chain as the drum is rotated, a gearing locatedat therear of said drum and said sha t for connecting said drum to said operaing shaft, a clutch connecting the operating handle with said gearing, aholding ratchet wheel for said drum arranged at the front end thereof, aholding dog for said ratchet wheel, and a brake operating chainconnected to said drum, substantially as set forth.

3. In a brake mechanism, the combination of a casing, a horizontaloperating shaft journaled at its ends in said casing and having anoperating handle secured to one end thereof without and adjacent to theouter wall of the casing, a chain winding drum geared to said shaft andjournaled within said casing with its axis parallel with said shaftabove the floor of the car, said drum having a peripheral windingportion shaped to increase the leverage on the chain as the drum isrotated, and a brake operating chain connected to said drum andextending downwardly therefrom for connection with the brakes of thecar, substantially as set forth.

4. In a brake mechanism, the combination of a pedestal casing adapted torest at its base upon the floor of the car, a horizontal operating shaftjournaled in said casing and provided with a vertical operating handle.a chain winding drum journaled in said casing on an axis parallel withand adjacent to said shaft above the floor of the car and geared to saidshaft, and a brake operating chain connected to said drum and extendingdownwardly therefrom within said casing for connection with the brakesof the car, substantially as set forth.

In a brake mechanism, the combination of a pedestal casing adapted torest at its base upon the floor of the car, a horizontal operating shaftjournaled in said casing and provided with a vertical operating handle,a chain winding drum journaled in said casing on an axis parallel withand adjacent to said shaft above the floor of the car and geared to saidshaft, means Within said casing for holding said drum against rotarymovement in one direction, means for operating said holding means whichcan be actuated from without said casing, and a brake operating chainconnected to said drum and extending downwardly therefrom within saidcasing for connection with the brakes of the car, substantially as setforth.

6. In a brake mechanism, the combination of a pedestal casing adapted torest at its base upon the floor of the car, a horizontal operating shaftjournaled in said casing and provided with a vertical operating handle,a chain winding drum journaled in said casing on an axis parallel withand adjacent to said shaft above the floor of the car and geared to saidshaft, a pulley journaled beneath the floor of the car on a bearingdepending from the base of said casing, and a brake operating chainconnected 'to said drum and extending downwardly therefrom within saidcasing and over said pulley for connection with the brakes ofthe car,substantially as set forth.

7. In a brake mechanism, the combination of a casing, a chain windingdrum j ournaled therein and adapted to rotate in either direction, meansfor rotating said drum, a reversible ratchet wheel adapted to beconnected with said drum with its teeth facing in either direct-ion, aholding dog for engaging said ratchet wheel to hold said drum fromrotation, said casing being provided with means for pivoting said dogthereon in either of two positions at opposite sides of the axis of saidratchet wheel, a single means for actuating said dog in either of itstwo positions, and a brake operating chain connected to said drum,substantially as set fort-h.

8. In a brake mechanism, the combination of a chain winding drumcomprising an eccentric portion of relatively large radius and aconcentric portion of smaller radius, said eccentric portion having aconnection for a brake. chain and corresponding peripheral windingportions which decrease in radius in opposite directions from said chainconnection to said concentric portion, whereby the rotation of the drumin either direction will wind the chain thereon and increase theleverage on the chain as the drum rotates, means for rotating said drumand a brake operating chain secured to said chain connection on saiddrum, substantially as set forth.

9. In a brake mechanism, the combination of a chain winding drumcomprising an eccentric portion of relatively large radius and aconcentric portion of smaller radius,-

said eccentric portion having a connection for a brake chain andcorresponding peripheral chain grooves which extend spirally in oppositedirections from said chain connection to said concentric portion,whereby the rotation of the drum in either direction will wind the chainthereon and increase the leverage on the chain as the drum rotates,means for rotating said drum, and a brake operating chain secured tosaid chain con nection on said drum, substantially as set forth.

10. In a brake mechanism, the combination of a casing, a chain windingdrum journaled therein and adapted to rotate in either direction, saiddrum having a connect1on for a brake chain and corresponding peripheralwinding portions which decrease in radius in opposite directions fromsaid chain connection whereby the rotation of the drum in eitherdirection will wind the chain thereon and increase the leverage on thechain as the drum rotates, means for rotating said drum, a reversibleratchet wheel adapted to be connected with said drum with its teethfacing in either direction, a holding dog for engaging said ratchetwheel to hold said drum from rotation, said casing being provided withmeans for pivoting said dog thereon in either of two positions atopposite sides of the axis of said ratchet wheel, a single means foractuating said dog in either of its two positions, and a brake operatingchain secured to the chain connection on said drum, substantially as setforth.

11. In a brake mechanism, the combination of a casing, a horizontaloperating shaft journaled at 1ts ends in said casing and having anoperating handle secured to one end thereof without and adjacent to theouter wall of the casing, a pinion and a clutch connecting said shaft tosaid pinion Within said casing, a chain winding drum journaled withinsaid casing with its axis V parallel with said shaft above the floor ofthe car, said drum having a peripheral winding portion shaped toincrease the leverage on the chain as the drum is rotated, a gearing onsaid drum which is engaged by said pinion within said casing, and abrake operating chain connected to said drum and extending downwardlytherefrom for connection with the brakes of the car, substantially asset forth.

12. The combination of a frame, a horizontal winding shaft and a chainwinding drum journaled therein side by side above the floor of the car,said shaft and said drum being geared together and being ofsubstantially the same length, said shaft having a vertical operatinghandle secured thereto adjacent to one end thereof, and said drum havinga peripheral winding portion shaped to increase the leverage on thechain as the drum is rotated, and a brake operating chain connected tosaid drum and extendin downwardly therefrom for connection wit% thebrakes of the car, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GRIFFIN S. ACKLEY.

Witnesses:

E. C. HARD, A. L. MOGEE.

